Requirements for the Ph.D.

1. 72 graduate credits, 24 of which must be research credits
2. Completion of the Master’s degree
3. Completion of all course requirements
4. Successful completion of the Qualifying examination
5. Successful completion of the Clinical qualifying examination
6. Completion of a one-year, full-time, approved clinical internship
7. Completion of the doctoral dissertation

Time Limits for the Ph.D.

1. Normal Minimum - 3 year

2. Normal Maximum - 7 years; permission for additional time must be requested from the Graduate School via the Vice Chair for Graduate Studies. Extensions will be granted only for exceptional circumstances.

3. The procedure for obtaining an extension on the time limits imposed upon the Qualifying Examination (six years), and the Ph.D. (seven years) has been revised. All such requests will receive an intensive review at a formal meeting attended by the student, the Committee Chair, the Program Chair, the Vice-Chair for Graduate Studies, and the Graduate Director. Only one extension will be approved by the Graduate Director. Therefore, requests must be carefully thought through.

The Doctoral Dissertation

1. The doctoral dissertation is expected to be an original empirical study, representing an independent research effort on the part of the student.

2. All research that involves human subjects must be submitted to and approved by the Rutgers Institutional Review Board (IRB) prior to the collection of any data. Even studies that use existing data must be submitted for prior approval. Requirements, deadlines, and all forms are available at the website, All students must complete the Human Subjects Certification Program (HSCP) and successfully pass the HSCP exam before their research proposal will be approved by the IRB. Students are encouraged to take the on-line course during their first semester. Instructions to access the on-line course and exam are: (a) Open your browser to https://webct.rutgers.edu; (b) Click on "Log on to myWebCT". Security Alert screen(s) may pop up; to each question, select "yes" or "ok"; (c) You will be at the "Logon to WebCT" page. Follow all directions from there.

3. A formal proposal for the dissertation research must be presented to and approved by the student’s committee. A formal meeting of the dissertation committee is required for approval of the proposal, and all members of the committee must review approve a written proposal.

4. Procedures and Regulations governing the Doctoral Dissertation:

   1. Ph.D. Dissertation Committee

      1. Complete the Dissertation Committee Form. This form may be obtained in Room 207, Psychology Department, Busch Campus. The completion of the form includes the concurrence and signature (to indicate that concurrence) of the Clinical Area Coordinator. You will be notified of the approval of your Committee by the Graduate Director. The form is then filed in the Office of the Vice chair for Graduate Studies.

      2. The Committee consists of four members: A chairperson who must be a member of the Graduate Faculty and two persons who may be either members or associate members of the Graduate Faculty. If less than two members of the committee are Psychology Department faculty, the chair must write a memo explaining why departmental faculty are not appropriate, and why selected committee members are appropriate. The fourth member of the Committee must be an "outside" member, defined as: a member or associate member of the Graduate Faculty in a program other than Psychology, or a qualified person from outside Rutgers University. In this case, approval must be obtained from the Graduate Director. Your Chairperson must furnish a paragraph describing the qualification of the outside member, along with a vita and mailing address of the individual.

   2. Final Examination

      1. It is your responsibility to make sure you have completed area course requirements and that you have 48 course credits and 24 research credits for the Ph.D. degree.

      2. The date for the final defense must be cleared with your Program Chair. Since dissertation orals are public, the Graduate Psychology Office must be notified at least 2 weeks before the scheduled orals (date, time, place, and title of dissertation) so that notices can be sent to faculty and students.

      3. Normally, the final draft of the doctoral dissertation is prepared by the student with the guidance of his/her advisor and then submitted to the remaining doctoral committee members at least three weeks prior to the date of the final defense. Students are allowed one retake of the doctoral defense. The Graduate School allows one dissenting vote on the doctoral defense.

      4. A booklet entitled "Thesis Form: Style Guide for Thesis Preparation" is available in Room 207, Psychology Department, Busch Campus. You are also required to submit an abstract not exceeding 350 words.

      5. Obtain candidacy application from the Graduate School office (on which results of the Qualifying Examination were recorded). Submit to the Chairperson of your Committee. The Chairperson will record the results by signing Part II, A or B. It is then your responsibility to have it signed properly by your Committee.

      6. Return to the Graduate Administrator for processing prior to obtaining the Graduate Director's signature. Completed forms must be filed with the Graduate School office no later than three weeks before commencement (no later than announced deadlines for October and January).

      7. Two copies of the dissertation are required--one copy (original on 100% cotton paper) to the Graduate School, and one copy to the Psychology Department. Five copies of the title page are requested, plus three copies of the Abstract. It is necessary to bring the dissertation (along with the candidacy form) to the Graduate Psychology Office for approval before submitting it to the Graduate School.

5. Upon completion of the program, please leave your latest home address and the address of your place of employment with the Psychology Department Graduate Administrator.